Holiday let welcome pack ideas for guests

Welcome pack ideas for holiday lets and Airbnb

Creating holiday rental guest relationships is important, and a great way to do this is to include items and a welcoming note as part of your guest welcome pack or holiday cottage welcome folder.

Why make a welcome pack?

When tired guests arrive at your holiday rentals, they don’t want to arrive at a sterile hotel but instead, they want to feel at home.

No matter whether you rent a holiday cottage by the sea, a short-let city apartment or a vacation holiday home in the hills, a well-thought-out welcome pack or basket can provide a great impression.

Did we mention that this will work towards earning you some great reviews, and getting repeat bookings too? Double results!

Essentials for self-catering welcome packs

Guests usually arrive hungry and tired, so start with simple self-catering essentials items: tea, coffee, sugar, milk, biscuits, bread and maybe fresh fruit.

Add a small hygiene pack with mini shampoo, soaps and dishwashing supplies, these essential items allow guests to settle in without a supermarket dash when they're already tired.

Personalising your welcome pack with gifts

Once you have nailed what to include in your standard welcome pack, you may start to consider how to take this a step further for different guest types.

One way is to personalise the contents by the type of guest that you attract.

Welcome baskets for couples

If you are attracting couples to your short let apartment for a honeymoon or an anniversary, chocolates and flowers are classic, and you could tailor an Airbnb welcome pack with a handwritten note and a small welcome gift.

Welcome baskets for families

If your short let home attracts families, a fruit juice, a colouring-in book with pencils and maybe a bedtime story would be much appreciated, especially when highlighted in your guest welcome book or welcome packet.

Welcome baskets for dogs

If your guests are visiting with an Assistance or Guide Dog, perhaps include a Nylabone chew treat for them too as part of your pet‑friendly welcome kit.

Practical tips on where to take the dog are very much appreciated, from the dog-friendly walks, to a helpful guide on the local cafés that offer doggy treats.

Our local café offers liver treats for the dogs, making it a firm favourite for dog-walkers.

Personal touches for cottages, glamping and Airbnb

To make your holiday cottage welcome pack memorable, add local products, a handwritten guest welcome letter and a small souvenir they can take home.

Put together thoughtful extras that will make your guests smile; candles, postcards, local snacks, flowers in season or a discount for a nearby café or attraction.

Seasonal welcome packs

Take into account the time of year, as this could affect what you include in your holiday let welcome pack.

Once you have attracted visitors during the Autumn months, swap out the cold drinks and replace them with hot chocolate packs, cosy blankets or seasonal treats in your self‑catering welcome pack.

And back in the summer season, you could recommend places with terraces and gardens, places with great ice cream, or add sunscreen sachets and extra water to your cottage welcome pack.

10 welcome pack ideas

1. A hygiene pack of shampoo and soaps.
   Consider local producers and discuss possible collaborations to promote each other.
2. A bottle of water in the refrigerator.
   If you're reducing plastic, then a water filter jug is a good alternative.
3. A bottle of wine, Champagne, or fruit juice.
   Tailor this to the type of guest, as couples, families with small children, and business travellers all have different tastes. Be aware of local laws on providing alcohol.
4. Chocolate.
   Most people enjoy chocolate, so this is always a winner. If there are children coming too, why not include a little something for them too?!
5. Local products promote the area and support other small businesses. Bread and fruit are popular ideas for the welcome pack.
6. A candle or a postcard is a popular option or a handmade item from a local artisan.
   Many take these home as gifts for family and a souvenir for your guests. If you can find products that link and remind guests of your property, then all the better.
7. Tea, coffee, sugar, and milk. 
   These are always a welcome sight in any holiday let and are often expected as standard. 
8. A discount in a local cafe or restaurant.
   Again, work with your local businesses to find quality companies who will offer your guest a discount in return for your recommendation. 
9. In-season flowers.
   These are perfect to set the scene of a homely home. 
10. Earplugs or eye masks are helpful for noisy areas.
    Guests who enjoy a good night's sleep are happier guests.

Welcome pack presentation

For any basic welcome pack, the presentation is important!

Take time to consider how it looks, and look for inspiration on places like Pinterest.

A welcome pack can improve the guest experience, as all experiences matter in this amazing self-catering industry!

Want to improve your guest experience? 

Bookster is dedicated to helping property managers from across the globe improve their businesses.

For supporting your guests we help with:

• A dedicated Guest Area
• Automated notification emails 
• Automated payment and damage deposit collection and refunds processes
• Marketing email suite to create automated and personalised emails to build relationships
• Beautiful Instant Websites to show off your properties
• Add value to your services with Promo codes, discounts, and providing extra services for free or a charge.

What to include in a welcome note?

A short welcome note with check-in details, Wi‑Fi, local tips and how to contact you works well for Airbnb welcome packs, self‑catering welcome packs and vacation rental welcome packages.

The goal is to supplement the information in your Guest Area with a personal warm welcome, so your holiday let welcome pack feels friendly, not generic.

Writing the note by hand is a personal touch, although you may prefer to have a printed copy that you sign instead.

Welcome information packs and automation

Alongside your physical welcome basket, include a short guest welcome folder or booklet with Wi‑Fi details, appliance instructions, house rules and local tips.

With Bookster, you can send an automated guest welcome email before arrival, linking to this information online and reducing questions and last-minute worries.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I put in a holiday cottage welcome pack?

Think about the types of guests that visit you – families, couples, business travellers or retirees – and build your cottage welcome pack around them. Include self‑catering basics (tea, coffee, milk), a few local treats, a simple welcome note and clear information in a guest welcome book or welcome folder.

What products should I include in a welcome pack?

Understand what are your guests might interested in. Childrens activity books (are their children in the party?), locally produced foods, homemade soaps etc.

Can I charge for a welcome pack?

Yes, you can. Many owners include a free mini welcome pack as standard and then offer a paid “essentials” or “luxury” welcome package (milk, bread, butter, local goodies) as an optional extra that guests can pre‑order.

Can I charge for a welcome pack using Bookster?

Yes, you can create an “Add On” in Bookster and allow guests to select a paid welcome pack for their holiday let or Airbnb when they book. This is ideal if you want to offer different welcome package options, such as family welcome packs, romantic welcome baskets or special one‑off bookers’ welcome treats.